Momentum & collisions worksheet with answers

Free printable Momentum & collisions worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
4 kg750 m/sV = ?

A 4 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 4 g bullet at 750 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 4 kgm = 4 gv = 750 m/s
V = m/s
2.Easy
0.3 kgv = ?

A 0.3 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 400 N for 10 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.3 kgFavg = 400 NΔt = 10 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
3.5 kg2 m/s4.5 kg

A 3.5 kg glider moving at 2 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 3.5 kgm2 = 4.5 kgv1 = 2 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
4.Medium
1 kg11 m/s0.5 kg

A 1 kg glider moving at 11 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 0.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 1 kgm2 = 0.5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
1 kgv = ?20 g40°L = 1.9 m

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1 kg block hanging from light strings 1.9 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 40° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 1 kgL = 1.9 mθ = 40°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
6.Hard
1300 kgv1​ = ?1100 kg

A 1300 kg car runs into a parked 1100 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 14.5 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.5. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1300 kgm2 = 1100 kgd = 14.5 mμ = 0.5g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. V = 0.75 m/s
  2. 2. v = 13.33 m/s
  3. 3. v′1 = −0.25 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 14.67 m/s
  5. 5. v = 150.6 m/s
  6. 6. v1 = 22.02 m/s

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